Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Monday 6 September 1999

Scottish Executive

Education

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of the additional funding made available to local authorities for repairs to school buildings since May 1997.

Peter Peacock: An additional £115.7 million over 5 years was announced in the July 1997 Budget. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, additional expenditure of £185 million on school buildings is expected under the local authority capital allocation arrangements over the 3 years from April 1999. These amounts will be complemented by Public private partnership schemes in 9 authorities amounting to £400 million announced in November 1998.

Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial provision it intends to make to enable further education colleges operating from unsuitable buildings to provide purpose-built campuses.

Henry McLeish: Around £45 million has been identified for capital investment in college buildings between now and 2002. Over £9 million is being allocated to colleges in the current financial year. The balance will be allocated over the next two financial years by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council on the basis of a survey of needs across the sector.

Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take to ensure that further education colleges are advised of their annual financial allocations at an earlier stage than is currently the case.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Further Education Funding Council is now responsible for allocating funding to individual further education colleges. It has announced its intention to advise colleges of their next annual financial allocations three clear months before the start of the funding year.

Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding the Scottish Further Education Funding Council has available to bring financial stability to further education colleges in the current financial year and what the procedure is for allocating these funds between colleges, including the precise basis for allocation.

Henry McLeish: When the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement for the FE sector was announced last year, one of the main objectives of the extra £214 million for the current and the next two financial years was to improve the sector’s financial stability.

  More than 98% of the increased funds available for the FE sector in the current financial year were allocated by the Secretary of State for Scotland before the Scottish Further Education Funding Council took over funding responsibilities on 1 July 1999. The Council has at its disposal for the remainder of the financial year three £1 million Funds for New Areas, Innovations and Ventures, and Collaboration and Rationalisation, plus a small contingency reserve.

Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify, for each of the last 6 years, (a) the total number of students attending further education colleges in Scotland, broken down into full-time and part-time students (b) the total amount of capital and revenue support provided to further education colleges in Scotland, including the amount of money which is ring-fenced for specific purposes and (c) the number of further education colleges in Scotland showing a financial deficit and the amount of such deficit; and to specify the planned levels of financial support for further education colleges in Scotland over the next 3 years.

Henry McLeish: The information requested is as follows -

  

Mode 

1994-95 


1995-96 


1996-97 


1997-98 



All student enrolments 

267,077 


319,994 


380,657 


411,408 



Full-time 

54,764 


56,362 


61,903 


65,563 



Part-time 

212,313 


263,632 


318,754 


345,845 




  Includes students enrolled on vocational and non-vocational further education courses.  Further education institutions are defined in this table as the 43 incorporated colleges; the local authority Colleges of Orkney and Shetland; and the Gaelic college Sabhal Mor Ostaig. Figures exclude Newbattle Abbey College. 1997-98 is the latest year for which figures are available. Data for 1996-97 and prior years excludes student enrolments at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, as data was not collected for these years.

  A student enrolled on more than one course is counted for each course on which they enrol.

  Data prior to 1994-95 is not on a comparable basis due to changes to the data collection source and methodology.  Data includes courses at further and higher education level.

  Total financial support 1993-94 to 1998-99 (7)

  

£ million 

1993-94 


1994-95 


1995-96 


1996-97 


1997-98 


1998-99 



Revenue 

204.6 


225.3 


234.4 


236.5 


241.2 


234.2 



Bursaries 

- 


- 


- 


45.0 


45.0 


44.0 



Capital 

13.6 


15.6 


15.2 


8.1 


4.6 


9.9 



Total 

218.2 


240.9 


249.6 


289.6 


290.8 


288.1 




  (7) No funding elements are specifically ring-fenced, thereby limiting maximum annual expenditure. Bursaries were funded directly by local authorities up to 1995-96. Provision for bursaries in 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 included funding for colleges’ bursary administration costs.

  Colleges showing financial deficits 1993-94 to 1998-99 (8)

  

 

1993-94 


1994-95 


1995-96 


1996-97 


1997-98 


1998-99 



Colleges in overall deficit 

12 


27 


27 


35 


35 


40 



Total deficits £ million 

2.9 


10.6 


16.0 


15.6 


11.7 


15.5 




  Source of data is the National Audit Office Report "Scottish Further Education Colleges: Managing Costs" published in June 1999. Data shown is from annual accounts, except for 1998-1999, which is based on colleges’ forecast figures. ‘Overall deficit’ is total income less total expenditure, including depreciation on the value of property inherited at nil cost on incorporation and exceptional restructuring costs. In 1993-1994, not all colleges included depreciation on the value of inherited property.

  Support for the FE sector over the next three years

  £329 million is available for the FE sector in 1999-2000. Planned levels of funding in support of the FE sector are £358 million in 2000-2001, and £394 million in 2001 –2002.

Employment

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a breakdown of the expenditure to date, including the allowance element, on each New Deal programme other than the New Deal for Young People in Scotland.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government. The Department for Education and Employment, along with the Department of Social Security for some programmes, takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations.

  The expenditure on each New Deal programme other than the New Deal for Young People in Scotland from April 1998 to July 1999 was:

  (a) New Deal 50 plus: Programme not yet commenced. Pathfinders due to start in October 1999.

  (b) New Deal 25 plus: £5.6m

  (c) New Deal for Partners of Unemployed People: £0.05m

  (d) New Deal for Disabled People: £0.3m

  (e) New Deal for Lone Parents: £2.3m

  The figure for New Deal 25 plus includes spending on employment subsidies. The other New Deal programmes listed do not offer an employment subsidy, but the figures given include various other allowance payments.

  In addition, there are central running and marketing costs for each programme which have not been included in these figures.

Employment

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-303 and S1W-304 by Henry McLeish on 29 July 1999, whether the maximum percentage of employers who have signed a New Deal employer agreement in Scotland and have also recruited a New Deal employee is 29%, and if so what steps are being taken to encourage the other 71% to recruit.

Henry McLeish: Employment Policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive. Many partner organisations at local level also provide New Deal services under contract or provide funds and other resources, including training funds to enhance the quality of new Deal in their areas. The public and voluntary sector organisations which contribute to the New Deal in this way fall within the remit of the Scottish Executive.

  Information on the number of employers who have taken on New Deal recruits is not available.

  There is a range of New Deal vacancies for suitable young people, to offer them a choice. At the same time, a number of measures are being tested. These include the intensification of the Gateway, in order to make New Deal clients more attractive to prospective employers.

Employment

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to publish, by option, the latest available destination statistics for the New Deal for Young People and the other New Deal programmes.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations, as indicated in the answer to S1W-01031.

  The latest available destination statistics (end June statistics) for the New Deal for Young People, New Deal 25+, and the New Deal for Lone Parents are set out in the tables below. The New Deal for Disabled People is still at the pilot stage and no figures have yet been published for the New Deal for Partners of Unemployed People.

  New Deal 18-24 (leavers from New Deal, January 1998 to June 1999)

  

 

Total Number 


% Unsubsidised Jobs 


% Other Benefits 


% Other Known 


% Not Known 



From Gateway 

13546 


47% 


16% 


9% 


28% 



From Subsidised Employment 

498 


62% 


2% 


1% 


35% 



From Full-Time Education and Training 

710 


34% 


13% 


16% 


37% 



From Voluntary Sector 

336 


42% 


15% 


7% 


36% 



From Environment Task Force 

322 


43% 


13% 


7% 


38% 



From Follow-Through 

2394 


31% 


10% 


7% 


52% 




  New Deal 25+

  Leavers from Advisory Interviews Process (July 1998 to June 1999)

  There were 7,352 leavers between the above dates, of whom:

  

Left to unsubsidised jobs 

877 



Left JSA for other reasons 

1870 



Returned to normal JSA activity 

3489 



Left to subsidised jobs 

460 



went onto Training for Work 

587 



went into Education and Training 

71 




  New Deal for Lone Parents

  Leavers from Advisory Interviews Process (October 1998 to May 1999)

  There were 2,060 leavers between the above dates, of whom:

  

moved into employment 

600 



transferred to other benefits 

30 



became ineligible 

210 



declined to join the caseload 

240 



withdrew for other reasons 

820 



unknown destination 

170 




  In addition, over the same period, 980 lone parents have moved into employment and 330 have moved into education or training and are continuing to receive support from a New Deal for Lone Parents Personal Adviser.

Employment

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what are the performance and impact measurements in place to monitor the success of the New Deal for Young People and the other New Deal programmes.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish executive and contributing Scottish organisations, as indicated in the answer to S1W-1031.

  The performance of the New Deal for Young People is measured in each Unit of Delivery by 9 Core Performance Measures. These are as follows:-

  The number of New Deal participants and the proportion of each cohort moving into

  i) unsubsidised jobs, ii) subsidised jobs and iii) all jobs;

  The number of participants and the proportion of each monthly cohort moving from the Gateway and each of the options into unsubsidised jobs;

  The unit costs of the outcomes covered in 1 and 2 above;

  The number of participants and the proportion of each monthly cohort remaining in jobs 13 weeks, 6, 12 or 18 months after leaving New Deal, as measured by the renewal or otherwise of claims for JSA and other benefits;

  The numbers and proportions of participants who are disabled, from ethnic minority backgrounds and who are men and women achieving the outcomes in 1, 2 and 4 above;

  The numbers of subsidised jobs made available by employers and the level of employer satisfaction;

  The level of satisfaction among participating young people;

  The number and level of qualifications achieved by New Deal participants; and

  The number of participants and the proportion of each monthly cohort leaving the New Deal for known destinations.

  In addition to these measures a comprehensive programme of evaluation is underway. The other New Deal programmes are assessed in similar ways.

Employment

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-302 by Henry McLeish on 29 July 1999, how many employers recruited the 5,570 people who obtained employment through the New Deal Gateway and how many of these employers had not signed a New Deal employer agreement prior to this recruitment.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations, as indicated in the answer to S1W-1031.

  Information about the number of employers who have taken on New Deal recruits is not available.

Employment

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-304 by Henry McLeish on 29 July 1999, how many employers have been involved in recruiting the 2,530 young people who have joined the New Deal employer option.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations, as indicated in the answer to S1W-1031.

  Information about the number of employers who have taken on New Deal recruits is not available.

Employment

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of young people who have completed their 6 month period on the New Deal were in the same employment 13 weeks later.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government, which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations, as indicated in the answer to S1W-1031.

  The Employment Service Research and Development database is client-based and will not track whether a person’s employment is the same or if they have moved to a different employer. The database can only track New Deal clients returning to Jobseekers’ Allowance/New Deal. Figures to the end of June 1999 show that, a total of 10,120 people had secured sustained employment through New Deal. A sustained job is one from which the participant does not return to claim benefit, or transfer to another option, within 13 weeks. This includes those who have been in employment for less than 13 weeks, but who have not yet returned to JSA.

Finance

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify its estimated total running cost for the current financial year and each of the next three financial years and to disaggregate the cost by department.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive’s expenditure plans for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 are set out in "Serving Scotland’s Needs". Appendix 3 of this publication shows the planned expenditure on running costs in 1999-2000 for the whole of the Scottish Executive. The publication also provides information on planned expenditure over the next 2 years by core Departments of the Scottish Executive, the Crown Office and some agencies. There are no expenditure plans for 2002-03 at present. It is not possible to disaggregate the total planned expenditure for core Departments. Running cost provision for these Departments is determined at an aggregate level and budgets are allocated to individual Departments during the financial year in question.

  The table provides details of planned expenditure on running costs for the current year and for the next 2 financial years.

  

Gross Running Costs 
 
 
 


 

1999-2000

  estimate 


2000-01

  plans 


2001-02

  plans 



Scottish Executive (Core) 

154.3 


158 


157 



Historic Scotland 

17.2 


18.1 


18.9 



Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency 

12.3 


12.6 


12.8 



Scottish Agricultural Science Agency 

5.7 


5.7 


5.7 



Scottish Office Pensions Agency 

5.1 


5.1 


5.1 



Student Awards Agency for Scotland 

3.7 


3.7 


3.7 



Fisheries Research Services 

14.1 


13.9 


14.2 



Scottish Prison Service 

168.7 


171.7 


173.7 



Scottish Courts Administration 

68.6 


70.3 


66.3 



National Archives of Scotland 

4.2 


4.4 


4.4 



General Register Office for Scotland * 

8.4 


11.3 


17.7 



Crown Office 

48.2 


49 


49 




  * Expenditure plans take account of costs associated with 2001 census.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of the expenditure on external contracts for public relations and lobbying activities by each of the Non Departmental Public Bodies for which it is responsible for each of the past two years and their respective budgets for the current financial year.

Mr Jack McConnell: This information is not held centrally.

Health

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will impose a moratorium on all planning applications which it has called in for open cast mining until the Newcastle University study Do particulates from open cast mining impair health? is completed.

Sarah Boyack: No.   Further consideration   will be given to existing planning advice when the outcome of the research is known .  NPPG 16 was published in March 1999. It introduced a robust new framework for the control of opencast coal mining and is intended to ensure that full weight is given to the effects of mining on local communities and the environment .  The guidance confirmed that the research was under way and that further consideration would be given to existing planning advice when the outcome of the research is known. In the meantime, the industry and planning authorities were asked to adopt a cautious approach and ensure that proposals and developments do not result in an unacceptable level of airborne dust. The Scottish executive will do likewise in considering cases that come before it.

Health

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct all Scottish councils to impose a moratorium on all planning applications for open cast mining until the Newcastle University study, Do particulates from open cast mining impair health? is completed.

Sarah Boyack: I refer Mr Paterson to the answer I gave with respect to question S1W-539.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the white paper "Towards a Healthier Scotland" does not mention the issue of suicide and any co-ordinated action to prevent it.

Susan Deacon: Suicide is a complex phenomenon influenced by a wide range of social, cultural, psychological, economic and other factors. The White Paper confirms that mental health is one of the top 3 priorities for the NHS in Scotland, and as is well known, some individuals (although by no means all) who commit suicide have been suffering from mental illness.

  The White Paper also emphasises that improving life circumstances – poverty, unemployment, bad housing etc – will have a beneficial effect on people’s mental health and sense of well-being; healthier lifestyles, too, contribute to better mental health. The thrust of the White Paper should lead to improvements in mental health and, therefore, to reductions in the suicide rate.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out seeking an explanation for the increased incidence of suicide among young people in Scotland in recent years.

Susan Deacon: I am not aware of any recent research about suicide among young people. The Chief Scientist Office is not currently funding any suicide-related research projects. However, within the last 5 years, 3 suicide-related projects have been funded, details of which are given below. None of these projects specifically targeted young people. We are also funding a National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by people with Mental Illness.

  

Title 

Duration 


Award 


Lead Researcher 



A study of suicides and deaths from undetermined 

cause in south-east Scotland. 

1/6/95-28/2/98 


£116,688 

Owens, Dr D G C 


The role of alcohol and medicinal drugs in completed 

suicide. 

1/2/96-30/9/96 


£2,465 

Crombie, Dr I K 


A study to evaluate early identification and follow-up 

of patients defaulting from care with a past history of self harm 

or harm to others. A general practice and mental health shared 

care for mentally ill. 

30/9/95-31/8/97 


£81,288 

Turner, Dr M 



  The Scottish Prison Service has its own Suicide Prevention Strategy and a research report on the Strategy was published in 1997. The Service’s revised Suicide Risk Management Strategy is to be the subject of an evaluation, with research to commence early in 2000.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce the incidence of suicide in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: We have a range of initiatives, which are designed to tackle some of the factors, which can contribute to suicide. For example, as part of our policy to encourage social inclusion, we have announced the funding of numerous social inclusion partnerships around Scotland. The Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland remains the basis for Health Boards, together with their planning and commissioning partners, to provide appropriate mental health services locally.

  In addition, legislation has been introduced governing the pack sizes of some paracetamol and aspirin products available over the counter, following evidence that many people who intentionally overdose use products that are readily available in their homes. The new measures are designed so that customers can still have easy access and sufficient quantities to treat short episodes of minor illness without leaving large residual amounts in the home.

  We are also funding a National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness. The study is examining health records of all individuals who committed suicide or homicide and had been in contact with mental health services in the period leading up to the suicide or homicide. The aim is to identify common patterns of behaviour, symptoms etc, and to use this information to provide guidance to medical practitioners to enable them to identify at an early stage symptoms which indicate that an individual’s mental state has the potential to lead to their committing suicide or homicide. Early identification may lead to timely intervention and diagnosis, and it is hoped that this may result in a reduction in the rates of suicide and homicide.

  Further, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has had a Suicide Prevention Strategy in place for some years, with a revised strategy introduced as recently as 1998. Key features include reducing isolation to a minimum, providing a safe social environment and engaging families in the care process.

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Prescription Pricing Division of the Common Services Agency of the Scottish Health Service will begin the testing of its new prescription computer system, how long the testing process will take and when it will be completed.

Susan Deacon: Testing is already underway and is expected to be completed by December.

Health

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a copy of the Tayside University Hospital Trust working group report on the Stracathro Hospital Services and whether it will make public both this report and its response.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive has not received a copy of the Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust working group report on the Stracathro Hospital Services.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why survival rates for patients admitted following a stroke are significantly lower at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy Acute Hospital Trust than the Scottish average, to provide an explanation for the wide variation in survival rates in such cases across Scotland, and what plans it has to improve survival rates in such cases across all Scottish hospitals, particularly those with the lowest survival rates.

Susan Deacon: The section on stroke in the most recent Clinical Outcome Indicators report, published on 23 August 1999, shows that survival rates in the 3 Trusts referred to appear to be significantly lower than the Scottish average.

  It is important to emphasise that outcome indicators are not intended to be used as ‘league tables’. As the report itself stresses, no direct conclusions should be drawn from any of the comparisons in this report about the quality or effectiveness of the services or treatment provided for patients of different Trusts or populations of different Health Boards. Such differences may exist, but they cannot be identified solely on the basis of these comparisons. The outcome indicator reports should rather be seen as part of a range of initiatives geared to the creation of a more quality-oriented and patient-centred NHS in Scotland.

  The most likely explanation of any variations will be case mix (i.e. how ill the patients were then they were admitted), but this cannot be confirmed without further detailed analysis, which is the responsibility of the Trusts and Health Boards concerned. Both Boards, in conjunction with the Trusts concerned, are specifically investigating the stroke survival variations shown by the latest Clinical Outcome Indicators report. This gives added impetus to the work already being undertaken by these and all other local health services to translate into local practice the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines on the management of patients who have had a stroke. In addition, both Boards are also investing in stroke services. In Lothian, £350 000 is being made available to develop an 11 bed stroke unit at St John’s, while in Fife, £86 000 will be invested to provide a dedicated stroke rehabilitation unit at Cameron Hospital.

  In future, one of the roles of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland will be to oversee the development and monitoring of standards for specific services, and it is in that context that the clinical outcomes indictors are likely to be of greatest value.

Justice

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the current court running costs per case for the Edinburgh, Duns, Haddington, Jedburgh, Peebles and Selkirk courts in the categories of overall, solemn work and summary work.

Mr Jim Wallace: Information on running costs at each court is not collected on a case by case basis since the time taken for individual cases can vary significantly. The table below shows the information requested by sitting day for the most recent quarter (quarter ended June 1999). Figures for Jedburgh and Duns are combined as Duns is currently staffed from Jedburgh on the days when the court sits.

  The running costs figures shown include Scottish Court Service staff costs and variable accommodation costs (rent, rates, minor maintenance, power and utilities, cleaning and security). They do not include Judicial costs, capital charges or major maintenance costs.

  A breakdown of sitting days as between summary and solemn business at each court is also included. This does not sum to the total sitting days because the courts also sit on civil business.

  

Court 

Cost per sitting day 


Total sitting days 


Summary sitting days 


Solemn sitting days 



Edinburgh 

£1017 


710 


392 


73 



Haddington 

£360 


194 


49 


1 



Jedburgh/Duns 

£740 


42 


20 


5 



Peebles 

£389 


13 


12 


0 



Selkirk 

£449 


23 


14 


3

Justice

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the prosecution costs per case for the Edinburgh, Duns, Haddington, Jedburgh, Peebles and Selkirk courts in the categories of overall, solemn work and summary work.

Lord Hardie: Prosecution costs per case are not held on an office by office basis. Information cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

Public Relations

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the expected total cost of its press and public relations operations for the current financial year and each of the next three financial years.

Mr Jack McConnell: The estimated total running cost of press and public relations operations for the Scottish Executive and its Agencies for the current financial year is £2,280,900.

  Figures for subsequent financial years are not available.

Scottish Executive

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on its key policy commitments and the target dates by which these will be implemented.

Donald Dewar: I am pleased to announce that the Scottish Executive is launching today the document Making It Work Together , which sets out how our agreement on policy as outlined in the Partnership for Scotland will be implemented and the timetable to which that will be achieved. Copies of the document have been sent directly to all MSPs, and it will be debated by the Parliament on 9 September.

Social Inclusion

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of the financial aid provided to local Women’s Aid groups (a) in total and (b) as received by each group over the past two years, and whether it plans to disburse funds directly to local Women’s Aid Groups in future years.

Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive provides financial aid to the national office of Scottish Women’s Aid through grants under sections 9 and 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and section 197 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.

  The funding of local Women’s Aid groups is a matter for local authorities to decide. In the financial year 1998-99 Scottish Women’s Aid was, however, awarded a one-off grant of £150,000 to assist with the increased demand on Women’s Aid services arising from the national campaign to raise awareness about domestic violence. I understand that Scottish Women’s Aid decided to divide this grant equally between the national office and the 38 affiliated local groups.

  The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to disburse funds directly to local Women’s Aid groups, but we are concerned about the welfare of all of those who are the victims of domestic violence. We look forward to receiving from the Scottish Partnership on Domestic Violence recommendations on how the problem may be further addressed.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to detail the capital and revenue expenditure by each local authority in Scotland on roads and transportation, in cash and in real terms, in each of the past four financial years and the projected expenditure by each authority in the current financial year.

Mr Jack McConnell: Because the information is lengthy I have arranged for it to be sent directly to the member and also placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Transport

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support and advice it will give to Strathclyde Passenger Transport to ensure that there is no repetition of the Glasgow Underground shutdown on 31 July.

Sarah Boyack: The operation of the Glasgow Underground is a matter for the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive.

Viasystems

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is in possession of a copy of the Department of Trade and Industry’s report of its investigation into the closure of the Viasystems plant in the Scottish Borders and, if so, whether it will make a copy of this report available.

Henry McLeish: This is a matter for the Department of Trade and Industry. DTI assures us that they have been monitoring the grant award position at Viasystems, that they will continue to do so and that there has been no breach of the grant conditions.

Viasystems

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government requesting that the Department of Trade and Industry reopen its investigation into the closure of the Viasystems plant in the Scottish Borders in order to investigate whether any Viasystems actions were in breach of the regulations governing the payment of Regional Selective Assistance.

Henry McLeish: I refer Ms Grahame to my answer to question S1W-1049.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Training

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what plans there are for disability awareness training for staff and Members of the Scottish Parliament.

Sir David Steel: A small working group has been established to look at developing an equal opportunities strategy for the Parliament. Information and briefing on this will be provided once it is in place. In the meantime, enquiries are being made of organisations such as Disability Scotland and the Equal Opportunities Commission with a view to organising lunchtime seminars to address issues such as disability awareness in the next few months.

Training

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what plans there are for racial awareness training for staff and Members of the Scottish Parliament.

Sir David Steel: I refer to my answer to S1W-1148. We shall also be inviting the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission to participate in our lunchtime seminars.